Activity is ramping up at North Korea's nuclear test site, a sign that the country is preparing for a test, according to analysis of new satellite images by the defense publication IHS Janes.

Mining carts and excavation equipment at Punggye-ri's tunneling area can be seen in satellite images taken by Digital Globe and GeoEye in the past month.

Earth and debris are being removed from the tunnel in the largest quantities seen so far, according to the Janes assesment.

An image from mid-April shows a full mining train, including an engine and several carts, outside of the tunnel.

And a more recent shot on May 9 reveals new road networks at the site along with carts and a vehicle at the facility.

"North Korea tested nuclear devices at Punggye-ni in 2006 and 2009. A third nuclear test by North Korea would be the latest move in restarting its nuclear weapons program, which it agreed to mothball in a 29 February deal with the U.S.," said James Hardy, an Asia-Pacific specialist at IHS Jane's Defence Weekly.

The top U.S. envoy for North Korea warned Pyongyang Monday against a possible third nuclear test.

"I think it would be a serious miscalculation and mistake if North Korea works to engage in a nuclear test," Glyn Davies told reporters following a meeting with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts in Seoul.

Many analysts assume an atomic test by North Korea is just a matter of time following the failure of Pyongyang's rocket launch on April 13. Two previous rocket launches in 2006 and 2009 were followed by a nuclear test.

Davies pointed to the international condemnation following the recent rocket launch, saying Pyongyang knows what kind of response a further provocation would elicit. Pyongyang had agreed a deal with the Washington just weeks before the April launch, with the deal guaranteeing no rocket or missile tests and access for nuclear weapons inspectors in return for food aid.

"They've sent a signal that they can't be trusted to follow through on their own undertaking on their own promises," Davies said.

But Davies did leave the door open for further negotiations, saying the United States has a dual-track policy of engagement on the one hand, pressure on the other. He insisted that the "engagement aspect remains open."

G8 leaders meeting in the United States over the weekend agreed that North Korea faces further isolation if it continues its pursuit of a nuclear program.

soundoff(184 Responses)

lunette ralph lauren

Ronald Koeman showed himself to be the Goodison Guardiola as he encouraged his attackers to keep switching positions to fool the opposition.
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The problem I see is North Korea giving a bomb to a terrorist group or to Iran. I hope they realize that if a bomb is used and proven to be from they will receive a response back. China should be the one stepping up however I think they are helping the North Korea. Right now North Korea is the bigger threat to world security than Iran, china or russia. I see a war coming and no one will be untouched by it.

just for one god damn week....
just one week can we not have propaganda shoved down our thoughts and just let us live normal fucking lives without the government trying to scare us.
damn im so fed up with this country

I think its funny that we in the US try to pressure other countries into doing exactly what the US wants them to do, and when the other countries say "NO!" the US says OK "we'll negotiate with you if you want? PLEASE!" The world is catching on to our policies. There growing a backbone now and standing up to whatever pressure we muster up against them. Somethings gotta give. Either we enforce our national foreign policy with swift military force, or we quit making threats all together.

If I'm not mistaken the bomb your refering to was the biggest non nuclear bomb that they have shown us so far. I know we haven' t been allowed to test any of our newest nuclear weapons (same as all countries who signed the treaty) for a long time.

I think we tried that in 1950. We were driven to the Pusan Perimeter taking heavy losses. We managed to drive them back to the 38th, but that's where we stopped. Are you proposing to finish the job? They have nuclear weapons now.

The major difference being of course, that the U.S. has had the world's laargest arsenal since WWII, but has chosen to not use them out of societal responsibility. Can we guarantee that North Korea is willing to be mature and do the same?

Of course, the Soviet Union was even more socially and societally responsible... It never unleashed one at all.

May 22, 2012 at 5:19 pm |

really?

I hope thats sarcasm.... They tested the biggest one of them all TSAR bomb google it!!

May 22, 2012 at 5:40 pm |

Sodomite

@really – it was a fucking test. They didn't use one on anybody.

Moron.

May 22, 2012 at 9:54 pm |

Felipe Lopez

Where have you been? maybe the history books have changed since I attended high school. I seem to vaguely remember that there have been two nuclear devices used in war. One in Nagasaki and the other in Hiroshima. What nation was that??

May 22, 2012 at 11:42 pm |

jbkorn02

That doesn't sound too smart. If North Korea attacked any of a number of countries it would be the start of another world war. We have out military in South Korea and are strong allies with them and israel which are the two most likely places to get nuked. One from North Korea and the other from Iran. We have treaties with both saying we have to defend them and China has treaties with North Korea saying the same. So we would basically be at war with China. Just like Russia has treaties to protect Iran. Either one gets nuked we are involved and it would take 50 years to get out of our obligations if we even wanted to.

Also if we used even a few of the types of nukes we have now it would destroy our country too because of the amounts of radiation that is put in the atmosphere. One missle I saw on tv around ten years ago (the ones Clinton traded to China) could break into 12 separate warheads and spread out before detonating. One of those missles would wipe Texas off of the map. Plus they have the ones that just kill people and not structures. And that was what the public was allowed to see ten years ago. Your crazy if you think any of the major powers should use even one of their nukes for any reason. The only reason to have them is as a detterent.

Yeah, China has risen to the same level as the US, Europe, and most of South America economically. They don't want a war with another high level economy, it does too much damage to the world markets. And what other war would you use nuclear weapons in? Even just threatening nuclear war would screw up the world markets, and China needs to keep growth high to keep all of the people flowing from the farms into the city looking for work employed and happy.

Now, they don't mind North Korea using nuclear weapons as a threat in their crazy negotiations with the US, anything that keeps the US government distracted and out of their hair is fine by them.

The Chinese are part of the nuclear arms treaty that says no testing of any more nukes. They wouldn't take a chance having the other big nations turn on them because of that. They're keeping all of the dirty work in Korea.

Propaganda even if it's true. I like the way CIA releases this when they still won't release their UFO files or the Kennedy assassination files. All I can say is SAVED IT! Or send Your kids to die in Korea. IS THERE ANYONE IN WASHINGTON THAT CAN BE TRUSTED?

I would rather than we just ignore them completely than to continue making empty threats. They obviously know that we won't actually do anything about their antics. So why give them the pleasure of seeing us sweat?

Could it be possible that two pariah states, North Korea and Iran, are in colusion in the development of nuclear weapons? It is obvious that if Iran began nuclear tests, this testing would be immediately recognized. However, if Iran
were using the North Korean site, it could be passed off as just another North Korean test.

I've been saying it from day one! Democrats across this country are a bunch of phonies, sellouts and cowards! For three and a half years democrats have all remained silent while the teapublicans stall progress in Washington, disrespect our President day in and day out and divide this country with their bigotry and hatred! And the only time the democrats speak out is to criticize their own President and administration for trying to fix the mess they inherited! Now you idiotic mayor is crying foul play? Why don't you tell the teapublicans to tone down their divisive and hateful rhetoric or remind them that Americans are still struggling to make end meet because they're the ones stalling progress? You were so quick to defend Mitt Romney's wealth while he criticized our President for three and a half years for putting Americans first, now you're complaining that the republicans have used you? Better be careful who you side with! These teapublicans will remind you exactly where your'e from! Idiot!

If by STALLING PROGRESS you mean, not spending every cent we have...I'm certain you won't get it anyway...
WE ARE GOING BROKE YOU IDIOTS...no more money, PERIOD. Free this, free that...we are all going to have plenty of free time on our hands when the bill comes due and there's nothing left to pay for it.

exactly what I was going to say......Obama isnt going to order anything. China backs them, and Syria. They're so afraid of us interferring in their side, that they get Russia to side with them to block UN forced resolutions! READ THE NEWS!

The north korean leaders are a bunch of crazy bastards who I feel would not hesitate to use a nuclear weapon against south korea or any country they don't like or trust. Eventually NK would have to be destroyed. And their asshole buddy China could be doing a lot more to control those crazy bastards, but refuse to do so.

...and the American leaders are a bunch of morons for continually making attempts at diplomatic negotiations with North Korea. The American public are a bunch of morons for continually buying goods made in China. The equation is really simple. Stop buying Chinese goods, and China and North Korea end their pathetic existence.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, candidate Obama said as President he would take the extra step to have direct dialogue with our enemies! Well Mr. President, here's your chance to do so! I say make the unprecedented and historic decision aand set the wheels in motion to invite the young Jong Il to Washington to work our our differences and open a new channel where NK can finally do what's required of it to join the world community! I know this is a very busy and hectic election year, so I don't suspect you would be able to do so this year! However Mr. Presiden, what you can do now to ease tensions in the region and get President Jong Il's attention is to send him a post card letting him know that you would enjoy having such a meeting with him in the near future! This Mr. President would definitely break the ice and get the young leader's attention!

One day its going to happen...Kabooooooom. One of thease nut jobs are going to set this fircracker off and kill millions. Well whos it going to be N. Korea, the U.S..... who the hell knows, what about Pakistan, a bunch of twisted A-holes should not have this right, India dont laugh, your included.......Iran is well on its way, notice thay havent been putting to much to print in the past month or two, they want this war....Iran, say hello to hell, its on its way very soon.

Calling rogue states axel of evil and further humiliating and infuriating them won't improve the potential for dialogue and progress! I'm so proud of President Obama because he led by example and he has made so many bold and courages decisions in implementing policies at home and abroad that are unprecedented! Like sending our Navy SEALS in a very covert and dangerous mission to take out OBL or joining forces with an international alliance to stop the bloodshed in Libya, a risk that could have been detrimental politically and economically as we're still fighting a tiresome and costly Afgan war! And at home, the President has been equally courageous as he has kept his campaign promise to the American people to make healthcare reform a reality and now he has stepped in unchartered waters in announcing his support for gay marriage! So since the President is on a roll, I say why not make yet, one of the boldest diplomatic decisions in modern US history and invite the young Jong Il to Washington to work out a blue print for stability and progress in the region? I guarantee it would work! Mr President I ugre you to take the lead in this one!

Yeah moron, sending in a Seal team on a covert mission is not humiliating to a 3rd world country, but calling them a "axis of evil" is. I hope your welfare checks get cut off when Obama bankrupts the country so you can no longer pay for internet access..

It is idiot's like you that is what is wrong with our country. you and those other tea party morons.

May 22, 2012 at 6:49 pm |

Walter Sobchek

Seriously dude, get Obama's c*ck out of your mouth. The guy hasn't come through on any of the promises he ran on in 2008. End the war in Afghanistan? Still going strong last I checked. Create jobs and restore the economy? Unemployment is still awfully high, and the economy still blows. Close Guantanamo Bay? Still open for business as the only tropical resort for people hellbent on destroying this country. Healthcare reform? Do you seriously think Obamacare is reform? Its ridiculous is what it is. If it was so great, the Supreme Court wouldn't be deliberating on the legality of it. Not to mention the fact that it could bankrupt the country. If you think it's such a good idea, get out your checkbook and you pay for it. Your beloved President hasn't done sh*t but talk a good game for 4 years. Am I saying Romney can do better? Nope. But I do believe it's time for some of that "change" your boy promised we'd get when he was elected....

You frigging teapartiest simply do not understand that all your trashy ranting is pure jealousy. the republicans in washington have said NO to every and any thing that would help us recover. the republicans are an enemy of america.

May 22, 2012 at 6:53 pm |

jimmy cracorn

Does anybody else find it comical how blury and zoomed out these types of pictures are. Especially after watching a thing on the Cuban missile crises and being able to read the side of the missile and see what people were wearing on the ground. LOL If the satellite were that good back them than I bet they can read the inscription on your wedding ring now. I get they can't show us the extent of their capabilities but at least they could be as clear as the pics from 1962

Haha, that is exactly the thought that popped into my head when I saw those blurry photos. JD's response about the fact that the U2's took pictures during the cuban missile crisis is true but today's space cameras can produce far above the quality that is displayed here. Current resolution is somewhere around an inch per pixel. Meaning that one pixel of the photo is an inch on the ground. This picture was obviously doctored for release to the public, we have all seen better imagery off of Google Earth.

I've read that today's spy satellites can read a car license plate from space. The images they release to the public like these are probably blurred intentionally. It's like the GPS signals...the signal the military uses is accurate to (I think) three feet but the signal for the public is "dumbed down" and accurate to something like 30 feet.

let's face it. US diplomacy with NK has failed simply because we continue to use the same old approach in dealing with NK! Each rouge state is different, ie NK and Iran and sanctions alone or verbal threats of this and that won't work! For half a century we have condemned NK's aggression and reckless behavior in the region, we have imposed snactions, we have humiliated them by calling them names and laughing at them when their rockets fail to lift off the ground and so on! Then while we condemn their aggression, we've turn around and hold provocative military exercises of our own on the border, further infuriating their government! So what have we not done in half a century of trying to improve relations with NK and not further alienate and isolate it from the western world? What we have not done is dispatched a leading heads of state like Henry Kissinger or Hillary Clinton! I believe if we want to show NK that we truly wish for them to abandon their hostile and divisive ways, we must sent the top of our administration to restart dialogue and convey in this case, to the vety young leader that we're not ashamed or too proud to shake your hand! That gesture alone would break the ice I believe!

rouge is french for red or a make-up that women use on their cheeks. rogue is an undisciplined or unreliable person, or in this case state. hard to carry any credibility to your argument with spelling like that.

Mike sounds a little angry!! One Mike is dumb for reading the site and two you sound like you have littleman's syndrome for going on that kind of rant Mike. Your parents told you that you have a penise but they lied to you too.

The U.S., as a major world power, can most definitely impose some stronger sanctions and embargoes if N. Korea continues to threaten the peace in the area. As for those using the "why can't they have some?" argument, major powers are often allowed to hoard nukes as a form of nuclear deterrence (we don't get pissed at Russia or China for having them), but allowing loose cannons like N. Korea to have them is dangerous. If N. Korea does not care for its own people's safety, what's to stop them from launching a nuke since they clearly do not fear the repercussions?

I disagree. NK DOES fear retaliation. They know full well that to nuke another country, any country, means their own doom. The NK leadership may be annoyingly arrogant, short, fat little jerks with weak egos but they aren't fools. They are all bluff and they are good at it. Why? Because bluffing the big powers to get what they want works so well as history has shown.

It's a stretch for me to say that they don't care about ANY retaliation, but the current trade embargoes and sanctions do not pose enough of a threat to N. Korea for them to stop the production of nuclear weapons. It would be a very tense situation for our allies in the Pacific (Japan, Australia, Philippines, etc.) if N. Korea does develop the technology. I guess I just don't like the idea of such a powerful weapon in the hands of such an unstable government.

May 22, 2012 at 4:39 pm |

Bobby

Probably another Janitors clean-up. Or two janitors this time. And US spent a million trying to track them down.

In 2002 NK casually revealed that they had developed nukes in violation of an agreement made earlier with Clinton. Here we are 10 years later and they must be that much more of a threat than they were back then. Diplomacy has proven that it doesn't work with them.

Its NK, no need to waste a tactical nuke on them. They have proven just how reliable their technology is with a never ending supply of failed rockets. Its only a matter of time before one of their nukes fails and they obliterate themselves.

May 22, 2012 at 2:38 pm |

Dr. Strangelove

What ? And risk radiating all those little Hyundais and Kias ?

May 22, 2012 at 4:08 pm |

dupper

Thank God I don't live in Europe! His view is a normal one of the U.S. citizen. The hate of the last century isn't gone, just replaced with smoldering resentment. But that is still far better than enduring a europe in which hate won.

The somewhat recent news about the imminent danger due to floods to the nuclear plant in Nebraska was eye opening. First Japan and now this. If technologically advanced countries cannot handle this surely third world countries would also struggle. Quid pro quo transfer of nuclear technology by USA to third world countries such as India needs to be opposed on moral grounds. Billions of people live in that neighborhood and would be at risk from such catastrophes which I am sure the American people would not like to be a party to. We are all well aware that that region is prone to floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and of course terrorism placing such nuclear installations at tremendous risks. US Congress is urged to reconsider and cancel all the agreements for the transfer of such technologies due “Force Majeure”. Prez Obama needs to address this issue in the election campaign as to what his position is.

The U.S., as a major world power, can most definitely condemn the actions of N. Korea if it threatens the peace in the area. Major powers are often allowed to hoard nukes as a form of nuclear deterrence, but allowing loose cannons like N. Korea to have them is dangerous. If N. Korea does not care for its own people's safety, what's to stop them from launching a nuke since they clearly do not fear the retaliation.

Fine. They can have nukes if they want but then let IAEA inspectors in. Same thing goes for Iran. They say they are a full charter member of IAEA but then refuse to let IAEA inspectors in as the rest of the members allow for. Also for being such an unstable government you clearly have to see why the rest of the world is nervous. It's like giving a kid a real gun. Brilliant idea.

The question is not what "right" the U.S. has. Americans today are so consumed with their "rights". No one seems to worry much about his obligations, but we all want our rights. The issue of North Korean nuclear weapons has nothing to do with anyone's philosophy of rights; it has to do with preventing a very dangerous and unstable country from starting a nuclear war. It has to do with American survival. You want rights? I'd say the U.S. has a right to discourage other countries from taking actions that threaten the U.S.

They (and Iran) signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, reliquinshing their rights to ever develop nuclear weapons in exchange for peaceful nuclear technology under the oversight of the IAEA. North Korea for years banned the required IAEA inspections claiming that their program was purely peaceful... right up until they announced that they had successfully tested a nuclear weapon. Yet we're falling for the same crap with Iran.

Yes, Jim, North Korea is a sovreign nation. And the U.S., and South Korea, and Japan, and much of the rest of Asia, have every right to take diplomatic steps and economic measures designed to discourage North Korea from threatening its neighbors. The U.S., for instance, has every right not to send the North Koreans food. The U.S. decision does not in any way deny North Korean sovreignty.

North Korea looks like it's laughing at USA and at the free World. Like someone wrote it so well, strongly believe that North Korea is a puppet of China and under its protection. But North Korea better be careful...China is a very mysterious country...Presently North Korea don't even care at all of what America says about their tests. All they want is to be on world news and maybe making a diversion that way about "Iran's talks" and to scare people and "show off" its "mighty strenght" (They believe in showing off) for its privilege "gang" and keeping its slaved and starving people in line....and its dissidents in "gulags". North Korea playing the card of "cat and mouse" with the free World. North Korea an allied of Iran and preparing as suspected "the missile" for the Iran nuclear bomb for to be delivered and a doomsday threat to the Free World and a real danger to all mankind and also could sell small nuclear arms to terrorists organisations.... It's a good thing that China knows that America and the Free World Allieds can make North Korea and Iran countries disappeared from the face of the Planet if they are ever suspected to make a moove in that sense...Until then, as stupid as they are, North Korea barks...and ruminates their hate about our values...Never to be trusted...One day the drop of water in the glass will make that glass of water spills...and China won't like it at all knowing that their puppet is unleashed...It is China's responsability to make sure that its puppet stay calm and not getting overboard...

If they want to play, they should pay. What kind of people starves it 's population into submission in this day and age? South Korea should invade with food and take over the corrupt government and we as Americans should stop buying products made in chna, maybe it's not too late.

I think that you, as Americans, should first learn how to write correctly in your own language before to start advising people what to do! The majority of the Americans are illiterate idiots that speak ONLY one language and even so, they cannot use it properly. You might soon become China's underpaid workers...

You know that Europeans live in America. I am one. I speak three languages. You also cannot write correctly. It is "before YOU start advising people what to do.". Do us all a favor and stay in Europe.

May 22, 2012 at 10:51 am |

Ethernet

Typical Euro arrogance.

May 22, 2012 at 11:40 am |

Jon

You cannot judge all Americans and their education based on one post from a CNN forum, just like I cannot judge all Europeans based on what some idiot posts here. Besides, if you are looking for proper grammar and spelling in articles, forum posts are not the best place to look...

May 22, 2012 at 11:59 am |

American

European is too stupid to do proofreading of his own. .... in your own language before (to) start advising people what to do! Nice grammer. I hope North Korea launches a nuke right up your hind end! Anyways how's that Euro doing?

Ah, how quickly you europeans forget. Take a walk among the endless lines of grave stones marking the resting places of all the "american idiots" who died to save your sorry asses from an enemy next door. You europeans have been fighting amongst each other for centuries. And now you all band together to form an alliance to compete with the "american idiots". How's that working out? Right. But don't worry, when the doodoo hits the fan, the 'american idiots" will bail you out like we always have. We may be "idiots" but we're pretty good friends to have.

May 22, 2012 at 1:09 pm |

Sick

European.. isn't the Eurozone on the brink of collapse after Greece, Portugal and Spain falls? Also isn't Spains unemployment in youth like 50% and similar to the rest of the countries? Even if we become underpaid workers, wouldn't that be at least better than your unemployed? Bazinga.

May 22, 2012 at 1:09 pm |

PEDO BEAR

Who teached you how to spoke English?

May 22, 2012 at 2:43 pm |

Fritz

'before to start advising people'? It appears YOU need a little lesson in sentence structure. Perhaps YOU should learn how to write in OUR language before you start criticizing us Yanks for spelling errors, arrogant european fool. That's right! 'european' gets a LITTLE 'e'.

May 22, 2012 at 3:09 pm |

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